Reno, NV – A national research watchdog organization,
SAEN, is labeling the University of Nevada, Reno as the worst lab in the
nation for violating the federal Animal Welfare Act.

“UNR has broken federal law 46 times in less than 1 year,
and these serious violations jeopardized the lives of dozens of animals,”
said Michael A. Budkie, SAEN’s Executive Director. “The lab that we had
previously named as the worst would have had only 17 violations in a
comparable period of time. UNR has almost tripled this level.”

The University of Nevada, Reno recently signed a
stipulation agreement agreeing to pay an $11,400 fine imposed by the
USDA/APHIS/AC. This agreement lists a series of very grave violations that
took place over a 10-month period. They include:

* Seven incidents of depriving animals of water
* Three incidents where animals were deprived of food or fed in an
unsanitary way
* Three instances of inadequate veterinary care
* Six instances where the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
failed to enforce the Animal Welfare Act within UNR

“These violations combine with 27 others to give UNR a
truly dismal record,” added Budkie. “When compared with other labs
mentioned in our reports, UNR is far and away the worst in the nation.”

The 46 violations occurred in a 10-month period from late
May 2004 – March 2005. Additionally, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported
that 38 pregnant sheep died in October 2002 while they were inside a
locked gate without food or water for three days.

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